Orchard-ladder



(No Model.)

B. M. CLOSE. ORCHARD LADDER.

No.571853. Patented Nov. 24, 1896.

UNITED Sterne Arsrrr BENJAMIN MORTIMER CLOSE, OF CATO, NEW YORK.

()RCHARD-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,853, dated November24, 1896. Application filed September 24, 1894. Serial No. 524,003. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN MORTIMER CLOSE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cato, Cayuga county, New York, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Orchard-Ladders, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in orchard-ladders in making themcomparatively light in weight, yet strong and durable and safe forpersons to work upon while engaged in picking fruit or trimming trees. Iattain these objects in the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of the entire ladder.Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the head of the ladder,showing the improvements when all put together. Figs. 3 to 8 illustratedetails. Fig. 8 is a top view of the cross-head shown in Fig. 2 at a ct.Fig. 5 is a back view of the same cross-head. The cross-heads are madeof metal of sufficient size for durability. l is the headd'od, made alsoof metal of sufficient strength, and extends through the entirestructure from side to side, as shown at b b in Fig. 2, and is tightenedup by means of the nut and thread, as shown at Z in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is ahook-bolt with a nut and thread on the straight end thereof. Thehook-bolt is put through the cross-head at g in Fig. 2 and also throughthe third leg 0 and is screwed up on the back side of the third leg, thehook end of the hookbolt encircling the head-rod, as shown at g in Fig.2. The braces c c in Fi 53 are made of metal of a size and strengthsufficicnt for the purpose and are punched at their upper ends toreceive the head-rod Z; I) in Fig. 2 and are also punched at their lowerends to receive.

the bolts 7t and (Z in Fig. 2, thus holding the third leg 0 in itsproper position when the ladder is set up for use. Figs. 7 and 8 showcheelopieces made of metal out in proper shape, to be punched andcrimped in the form as shown, being in pairs, and are riveted to theinside of the main sides as supports of the ladder. The cheek-pieces areshown in Fig. 2 at ff.

t t in Fig. 2 show where the cheek-pieces are riveted to the main sidepieces of the ladder.

c c in Fig. 2 show the top step of the ladder.

k 7.; show the small bolts that extend down through the top step andalso through the upper flange of the cheelvpieces and are screwed upagainst the flange of the cheek-pieces. The cheek-pieces are wide enoughto receive two rivets each where they are riveted to the main sidepieces and also receive two small bolts each where the top step isfastened to the flanges of the cheek-pieces, thus making it difficultfor the side pieces or top step to split or get out of place. Thel'ooped ends of the cross-head are shown at m m in Fig. 3. The head-bolt3) (shown at Fig. at and also at b b in Fig. 2) extends through the mainsides of the ladder, through the lower ends of cheekpieces, and throughthe upper ends of the braces e c in Fig. 2, and through the looped endsof the cross-head, and along the groove in the cross-head, and under thehook end of the hooked bolt, as shown at g in Fig. 2.

hen the ladder is all put together with all of the improvements, thecross-head not only keeps the third leg 0 inits proper position, butacts as a support or stop to the main sides of the ladder to keep thesides of the ladder out to their proper places. When the head-rod isscrewed up tight and when all put together and sufficiently tightenedup, the head of the ladder is comparatively light, yet strong and rigid,making it safe to use and very durable.

XV hat I do claim as my invention, and dc sire to secure by LettersPatent, is-- 1. In a ladder, the combination, with the sides thereof, ofa grooved and perforated cross-head extending between said sides, and

a bolt passing through the cross-head and the sides and uniting them.

2. In a ladder, the combination, with the sides thereof, of a groovedand perforated cross-head extending between said sides and uniting them,a third leg, and means for attachin g the latter to the cross-head andbolt.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIX MORTIMER CLOSE.

lVitnesses:

J. H. RUSSELL, G. K. Esrns.

